5 minute read
BREAKING BREWS
Former Journalists Open Barnhouse Napa Brews
— By Stacey Gualandi
Deluxe Version BUSINESS
Let’s be honest, finding the perfect cup of coffee that is luscious, local, and low-priced can be a grind, even in a popular culinary destination like Napa, California. But two veteran “newsies” who thrive on adrenaline— and caffeine — hope to change all that with the launch of Barnhouse Napa Brews, a new coffee pub in the heart of wine country.
Friends and former FOX News journalists Eric Barnes and Adam Housley (“Barnhouse”) say their java joint is an American spin on a traditional English pub and offers quality coffee and tea by day; artisan beer and wine by night. Taking risks, like opening a new business, comes second nature for these enterprising entrepreneurs. They’ve covered everything from civil wars to tsunamis in nearly a dozen countries across the globe and shared a lot of coffee along the way. When they left news, Barnes went to work for Lindblad/National Geographic Expeditions as an award-winning photographer. Housley went back to his Napa roots with his wife, “Sister, Sister” actor and former “The Real” host Tamera Mowry-Housley, to run their family-owned Century Oak Winery and open Housley Napa Valley, a Five Star Rated wine tasting room.
But it wasn’t until they reunited over margaritas last year at the wedding of FOX News anchor Rick Leventhal and “Real Housewives of Orange County’s” Kelly Dodd that their idea to go cahoots on a coffeehouse began to percolate. And it certainly didn’t hurt to have a shot of celebrity in the mix. As one-third co-owner and resident taste tester, Mowry-Housley soon brought in a longtime friend to create a look for the brew pub, fellow actor and interior designer Alexis Fields (“The Secret World of Alex Mack”), whom she first met on “Sister, Sister.”
Now, one year later, Barnhouse is up and pouring in downtown Napa.
With all this talk of reunions, I must fully disclose that Barnes and I worked together for years at Inside Edition, so it was a thrill to spill the tea about coffee, community, and why the team behind Barnhouse is the perfect blend.
DELUXE VERSION MAGAZINE:
So what is Barnhouse Napa Brews? ERIC BARNES: It will have kind of a “Cheers” vibe where everybody is going to know your name when you walk in. It’s got a great lounge area and a room to play darts and shuffleboard. Barnhouse is something that I think Napa is lacking. ADAM HOUSLEY: We felt there wasn’t what I call a “local.” When you go to England, Ireland, or anywhere in the UK, you have that local where you go early in the morning to get a pastry and really good coffee…then later in the day, you might go back and meet someone there and get a panini, another pastry and a pint. There’s really nothing like that in wine country, at least in the Napa Valley.
TAMERA MOWRY-HOUSLEY: Eric has been a part of Adam and I’s life since we first started dating. When I found out that he was moving to Napa, I was so excited, and was definitely excited when he wanted to open up a coffee shop. It’s because of Eric, honestly, that I was like, “Fine, all right, let’s do this!”
DVM: Eric, did you always want to open a coffee shop? ERIC: Had there not been a pandemic, this would not have happened. I was married to the job at Nat Geo, but COVID shut down travel and I was bored. I was shooting a wedding, which I normally would say no to but I needed a few bucks, which took me to Sonoma and Adam happened to be at the wedding…and here we are. ALEXIS FIELDS: The thing that separated all of us is the thing that birthed the place that’s going to bring us all together, which is so amazing. DVM: Alexis, you also designed the Housley Napa tasting room, but what inspired the look for Barnhouse? ALEXIS: Well, immediately with the name “Barnhouse,” we have to play on the barn theme. It’s definitely got the upbeat energy of Adam with the shuffleboard table and the dart room, and this laid-back chill vibe with fireplaces and sofas which is more of the Eric side. So it’s really a reflection of the guys who run it.
DVM: So where does your coffee come from? ADAM: Everything here is going to be locally sourced. Bentley’s is our roaster and Barnhouse will be our main label. Like our wines, all of our coffee products will have a name and a story. They’re all local and affordable. They’re all small business.
ERIC: We’ll be taking some pastries from the local bakeries, and we have an incredible donut maker who has some killer donuts. We have a local lady of British ancestry who makes the most amazing sausage rolls, pasties and paninis. They’re just brilliant. TAMERA: I’m huuuuungry!!! Ha!! But really, the coffee is fantastic. I double up sometimes with coffee — I call it my upper — and then when I want to just like chill out, I’ll have my glass of (Housley) wine. The perfect pairing. DVM: What sets Barnhouse apart? TAMERA: Inclusivity. That’s what’s so great about Housley Napa, and we’re carrying that over into our coffee shop. Everyone is welcome here. It’s about love, people and community.
ADAM: We have a saying at the tasting room: “Friends and family always welcome.” We don’t care who you are. We don’t care where you come from. We don’t care what you identify with. As long as you’re kind, you’re welcome. ALEXIS: That’s the greatest part of this project, that it’s community-minded, and we’re making sure to really serving the people of Napa Valley. So that keeps us all in check I think, and it keeps us all with a positive attitude. DVM: This just might be the right coffee shop at the right time. So it looks like journalists and actors can work together nicely!
ADAM: It depends on who you ask! ERIC: Nobody has killed each other yet. Haha!
